GERUND & INFINITIVE
NOTE: The following list is not meant to be inclusive. All the lists are in alphabetical order.
VERB + TO + INFINITIVE (full infinitive): Note: the underlined verbs are used with the gerund too.
*Can you tell me how (make) …to make… an egg pie?
E.g. *I learned (drive)… to drive… last summer.
VERBS: afford - agree - appear - arrange - attempt - beg - begin - care - cease - choose - claim - consent - decide
demand - deserve - fail - forget - happen - hate - *help - hesitate - hope - intend - learn - like - love - manage - mean
need - neglect - offer - plan - prepare - prefer - pretend - promise - propose - refuse - remember - resist - seem - start
stop - struggle - swear - threaten - try - volunteer - wait - want - wish - would hate/like/love/prefer - be allowed to
The to-infinitive is used after some adjectives such as:
nice – glad – sorry – happy – willing – pleased – angry – afraid – ashamed – annoyed
NOTE 1:
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‘w/h’ expressions are followed with to + infinitive when they don’t start questions.
We use to+ infinitive when we express purpose.
We use to+ infinitive after the construction: it’s + adjective...
We use to+ infinitive after ordinal numbers: the first.../ the second.../ the third...
NOTE 2: Verb + object + full infinitive:
E.g. *I want you (come) …to come… with me.
*The teacher advised us (revise)…to revise… well.
VERBS: advise - allow - ask - beg - cause - challenge - command - convince - dare - enable - encourage - expect
forbid - force - *help - hire - instruct - invite - need - order - permit - persuade - recommend - remind - require - teach
tell - urge - want - warn - wish - would like - would love - would hate - would prefer
VERB (+ OBJECT WITH SOME VERBS) + INFINITIVE WITHOUT TO (bare infinitive):
E.g. * I need someone to help me (understand) …understand … this math equation.
can/could - shall/should- will/would - may/might – h
ave to - must - had better - *help – hear - let - let’s - make would rather/sooner , rather than/ - used to – watch -
VERB + ‘ING’ FORM (gerund): Note: the underlined verbs are used with the full infinitive too.
E.g. * They admitted (steal) …stealing… the money.
*Ali is fond of (swim) …swimming…
VERBS: acknowledge - admit - anticipate - appreciate - attempt - avoid - begin – carry on - can’t help/resist/stand - look
forward to - cease - celebrate - complete - confess - consider - delay - deny - detest - discuss - dislike - endure - enjoy fancy - feel like - finish - forget - give up - go - go on - hate - imagine - include - intend - involve - it’s worth - keep (
= continue) - like love - mention - (don’t) mind - miss - neglect - postpone - practice - prefer - quit - recall - recollect
- recommend regret - remember - resent - resist - risk - spend - start - stop - suggest - tolerate - understand - waste time
- spend time be/get used to - watch
The gerund is used similarly after the following expressions:
It’s no use … / It’s no good … / There’s no point in …/ What’s the use of …? / To be busy … /
Don’t mind … / It’s (not) worth …/ Have difficulty in … / To be accustomed to …
NOTE 3:
 The gerund is used after the construction: be + adjective + preposition.
 The gerund is used after certain prepositions, prepositional verbs and prepositional adjectives.
GERUND (VERB + ‘ING’ FORM) OR FULL INFINITIVE (TO + INFINITIVE):
E.g. * She started (learn) …to learn / learning… English when she was 6 years.
attempt - begin - cease - forget - hate - intend - like - love - neglect - prefer - recommend - remember - start - stop - watch
Mr Nabil Sbaybi
www.myteachernabil.com